ENG-2005 — Page 313

Transport 267

testing centres operated by the private sector. These centres conducted 186 000 vehicle examinations during the year. In addition, 3 500 spot checks were conducted on franchised buses to ensure their safety, roadworthiness and service standards.

A chassis dynamometer has been installed in the Kowloon Bay Vehicle. Examination Centre to perform random checks of smoke emissions from diesel vehicles under load.

All vehicles imported into Hong Kong may be examined to ascertain whether they meet statutory requirements before they can be registered and licensed. In 2005, out of 542 vehicle types approved, 511

511 were made through one-stop-shop mechanism through a simplified system which examines sample vehicles of the same model.

Electronic payment is now available at all vehicle examination centres, providing additional convenience for users. Vehicle Appointment Status Display Systems have been installed at the New Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre, Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre and To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Centre to show the available examination slots to members of the public who want to make appointments. This service has been available through the Internet since January 2005.

Application of Technology

Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed to enable traffic conditions at critical locations to be monitored and appropriate actions taken to alleviate traffic congestion where required. At present, there are 168 cameras installed in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po and North districts. To stay in the forefront of technology, the Transport Department will replace the old CCTV systems currently installed on Hong Kong Island with the first digital CCTV system in Hong Kong in 2006. The use of digital technology will improve monitoring and reduce the long-term operating cost of transmitting and disseminating CCTV images. In addition, there are 72 cameras operating on major highways such as Tuen Mun Road, West Kowloon Highway, North Lantau Highway, San Tin Highway, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway and roads leading to the boundary crossings.

Images captured by CCTV cameras at 43 strategic locations were first broadcast to the public via the Internet in 1999. The public welcomed the service and the Transport Department has since increased the number of such locations to 119.

Traffic control and surveillance (TCS) facilities, such as CCTV and lane signals, have been provided in all tunnels and the Tsing Ma Control Area. Variable message signs, automatic incident detection system and variable speed limit signs have been installed or are being retrofitted in some tunnels. Major new road projects will have new TCS equipment for efficient traffic and incident management, including the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (HK-SWC), Deep Bay Link and Route 8 between Sha Tin and Tsing Yi.

The Traffic Control Centre completed in 2004, continues to manage traffic incidents for the whole territory and control traffic in the New Territories. The video